State-run media directed to give coverage to all parties

ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Minister for Law Syed Ali Zafar has said that an implementation plan regarding the merger of erstwhile tribal areas with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be deliberated today (Wednesday).

Talking to the media here, he said that the federal and the provincial implementation committees were meeting in Peshawar today on this matter. He said that an ordinance was likely to be issued on the provincial level to cover all the issues relating to the merger.

He said that steps would also be taken for the legislation regarding taxation and exemptions for the erstwhile tribal region. To a question, the minister said that there has been no constitutional violation in the merger of the tribal areas with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

However, if any person has grievance on this issue, it can be taken to the Supreme Court, he said, adding that deployment of the Levies – a paramilitary force – in the tribal areas would be made in a phased manner. To another question, he said that the elections would be held in free and transparent manner.

He said that the courts were free and no one can intervene in their working. He said that the state broadcasters have been asked to give impartial coverage to all the political parties. Ali Zafar said that the caretaker government has invited foreign qualified professionals to sort out solutions for the national problems, including the shortage of water.